1. Introduction 

Global Counsel Forum Limited (“GCF”, “we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share and protect personal data in connection with Amicus, the GCF professional community platform, and related GCF services. 

 GCF is the data controller for the personal data described in this policy. We are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in the United Kingdom. 

 This policy applies to all Amicus members, applicants, and anyone who interacts with GCF in connection with Amicus. It should be read alongside our Terms and Conditions and Community Guidelines. 

 2. What personal data we collect 

    2.1 Information you provide when applying 

When you apply to join Amicus, we collect: 

•  Name, email address, and preferred name 
• LinkedIn profile URL 
• Location (city and country) 
• Professional information: employer, job title, practice area, years of experience, regulatory number (SRA or Bar number where provided) 
• Membership type and, where applicable, corporate access code and employer name 
• Responses to community-fit questions including what you are hoping to get from Amicus and where you are in your career 
• How you heard about Amicus 

     2.2 Special category data (provided voluntarily) 

With your explicit consent, we also collect the following special category data for research and community reporting purposes only. Providing this information is entirely optional and will not affect your application or membership: 

• Ethnic background 
• Gender identity 
• Socioeconomic background 
• Disability or long-term health condition 

 This data is used only in anonymised, aggregated form for research and reporting. It is never shared with other members or third parties in identifiable form and will never affect decisions about your membership. 

 2.3 Information generated through your use of Amicus 

When you use the Amicus platform, we may collect: 

• Your profile information and any content you post in community spaces 

• Your participation in events, webinars, and programmes 

• Platform usage data including which spaces you visit and how frequently you use the platform 

• Communications you send to GCF 

 3. How we use your personal data 

    3.1 To deliver your membership 

We use your personal data to process your application, manage your membership account, give you access to the Amicus platform, and personalise your experience — including directing you to the spaces and content most relevant to your practice area and career stage. 

 3.2 To communicate with you 

We will use your contact details to send you communications about your membership, platform updates, GCF events, and training. Where we send marketing communications such as newsletters, we do so only with your consent. You may withdraw this consent at any time by unsubscribing or contacting us. 

     3.3 To moderate the community 

We use information about your account and platform activity to enforce the Community Guidelines, investigate reports of misconduct, and maintain the safety and integrity of Amicus. 

 3.4 For research and reporting 

With your consent, we use anonymised and aggregated data — including the special category data described above — to produce research and reports on diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. This research is a core part of GCF’s mission. Your individual data is never identifiable in any published research. 

 3.5 Legal basis for processing 

We process your personal data on the following legal bases: 

• Contract: processing necessary to deliver your Amicus membership 

• Legitimate interests: platform moderation, fraud prevention, and improving our services 

• Consent: marketing communications, newsletter, and special category data 

• Legal obligation: where we are required to process data by law 

 4. Special category data — additional provisions 

Because we collect special category data (ethnicity, gender, disability, and socioeconomic background), we are required under UK GDPR to identify a specific condition for processing. We process this data on the basis of your explicit consent, given via the membership application form. 

 You may withdraw your consent to the collection of special category data at any time by contacting us at privacy@globalcounselforum.com. Withdrawing consent will not affect your membership or any processing already carried out. 

 This data is stored separately from your general membership data, access is restricted to authorised GCF staff only, and it is never used to make decisions about your membership. 

 5. How long we keep your data 

We retain your personal data for as long as your membership is active and for a period of three years after membership ends, unless we are required by law to retain it for longer. 

 Special category data collected for research purposes is retained in anonymised form only. Your identifiable special category data will be deleted within 12 months of collection unless you have given ongoing consent for its retention. 

 Where you request deletion of your data, we will fulfil that request within 30 days subject to any legal obligations to retain certain records. 

 6. Who we share your data with 

We do not sell your personal data to any third party. We share your data only in the following limited circumstances: 

• Circle (the platform that powers Amicus): your name, email, and profile information are shared with Circle to create and manage your community account. Circle’s privacy policy governs their use of your data 

• HubSpot: we use HubSpot as our CRM to manage membership applications and communications. Your data is stored in HubSpot in accordance with their data processing agreement 

• Payment processors: where you pay a membership fee, your payment details are processed by our payment provider. We do not store payment card data 

• Professional advisors: where necessary, we may share data with legal or regulatory advisors under obligations of confidentiality 

• Regulatory bodies: where we are legally required or professionally obliged to disclose information — for example, in response to a valid legal request or where a member’s conduct may require reporting to a professional regulator  

Where we share data with third party processors, we ensure appropriate data processing agreements are in place.  

7. International transfers 

GCF and its primary service providers operate within the United Kingdom and European Economic Area. Where data is transferred outside of the UK or EEA, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with UK GDPR, including standard contractual clauses where required. 

8. Security 

We take the security of your personal data seriously. We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data against unauthorised access, loss, destruction, or disclosure. Access to personal data within GCF is restricted to staff who require it to perform their role. All staff with access to personal data are trained on data protection obligations. 

 If you become aware of any security concern relating to your Amicus account, please contact us immediately at privacy@globalcounselforum.com. 

9. Your rights 

Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights in relation to your personal data: 

• Right of access: to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you 

• Right to rectification: to ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data 

• Right to erasure: to request deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances 

• Right to restriction: to request that we restrict processing of your data in certain circumstances 

• Right to data portability: to receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format 

• Right to object: to object to processing based on legitimate interests 

• Right to withdraw consent: where processing is based on consent, to withdraw that consent at any time 

• Rights in relation to automated decision-making: we do not make solely automated decisions that significantly affect you 

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@globalcounselforum.com. We will respond within 30 days. There is no charge for exercising your rights.  

If you are unhappy with how we have handled your data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk. 

10. Cookies 

The Amicus platform may use cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience. A separate cookie policy is available on the GCF website. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. 

11. Changes to this policy 

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of any material changes with at least 30 days’ notice. The current version of this policy is always available at globalcounselforum.com. 

12. Contact us 

For any questions, concerns, or requests relating to this Privacy Policy or the way we handle your personal data, please contact our data protection lead: 

Global Counsel Forum Limited 

71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JQ 

amicus@globalcounselforum.com